Gender Inequality In The Hunger Games

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Summary: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins narrates the story of a dystopian society with a strict regime and corrupt government system. It all occurs in the futuristic country of Panem – old North America– which originally consists of thirteen districts; however, due to a rebellion the Capitol drops bombs on the thirteenth district destroying it completely. This uprising leads to the creation of the Hunger Games in order to instill fear in the population and prevent a second revolution. Twelve districts remain but appear divided not only by physical fences but also emotional barriers, wealth, and power. The Capitol serves as the Mecca where individuals with major monetary income reside and so does the President. Even though Districts 1 and …show more content…

Women are viewed as weak creatures and men as providers. The role of women usually consists of giving birth, staying at home, taking care of domestic labor such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, etcetera; while men leave the house and bring back the supplies. These ‘gender roles’ are supported in many cases by literature. In Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, one of the main characters –Kate – delivers a speech expressing how women should treat men. She mentions that men are women’s kings and governors; they care for women and work day and night to cater to their needs therefore women should take their boots off when they arrive home; women owe men obedience. Pieces of writing like these promote gender stereotype and assists its prevalence. However, in the Hunger Games the roles are exchanged. When Katniss’s dad dies, she essentially becomes the ‘man’ of the house providing her family with food and what is necessary for them to survive. She’s an exceptional hunter and hardworking survivor whose main priority is her family’s well being. Peeta on the other hand appears as a loving and compassionate individual; not even his mom believes in his abilities to survive but she mentions that Katniss stands the chance of survival. He also has been in love with Katniss since they were kids; relationships and romance are tied with femininity but in this case it is the opposite. Even though Peeta cannot hunt or utilize weapons, which makes him weaker in comparison to Katniss, he’s artistic – another attribute associated with the female gender. Hunger Games demonstrates the performance of women as leaders and goes beyond prejudice-filled gender

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